Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
A TALK WITH SIR CHARLES.
The Canadian Ministers Views ON OBrien
and Commercial Union.

The Canadian Ministers Views on O'iSrien
and Commercial Union.
NEW YORK. May 2l.-Sir Charles Tup-
per, Canadian Minister of Fiuance, at
present visiting this city, in an interview
expressed his views on matters which in
terest the public.
His first remarks concerned the visit of
Mr.. o. Brieu to Canada, and while he did
not 90 into the subject very extensively,
he made his remarks sufficiently pointed.
lone of the advantages which we think
the British system has over the American
system,'' he said, ''is that both in England
and in Canada all parties treat the Execu-
tive head of the nation us beyond cTltl-
ciSm. We attack the responsible Ministers
of the day in England, and in Canada we
do the same thing, hut we don't attack
the Executive head of the country.
Ficrcely as controversy may wage between
the two parties, they all unite IN sustain
my the Executive head ofthe country. 1t
naturally follows that we disapprove very
stronyly-all parties and all classes Of us
of a departure from that course by anybody
coming into the country To attack the
Queens representative, and that in refer
cncc to questions that have no relation to
Canada or Canadian ailaiIs.
AT the same time everybody declares
the fact that, it Mr.. O'Brien had the bad
taste and the had judgement to come to
Canada on such mission, he should have
been made the subject Of violence by any
interference. Such a thing is most un-
usual thing for Canada, rs it is place
where the treeSt speech on all questions IL
tolerated.
Concerning the question of commercial
reriprocity between the United StOtes and
Canada, Sir Charles had a great deal TO
say. 1T is very much in the interest of
the United States and Canada, he be
van ''that there should he the
lreest commercial intercourse between
the' two countries Canada is ready
and has always been ready 10 promote that
commercial intercourse To the fullest pos
sible extent But of course we are quite
aware that unless we can adopt the United
States tariff Us between us and England 1t
would he quite impracticable. | mean
that it would be impossible tor the United
States to consent tn . customs union or
free trade between Canada and the United
States, as that would really mean free
between the United States and England.
A complete customs union is simply im-
prarticable. Ii would be quite impossible
Ior Canada to adopt tariff so hostile TO the
mother country.
81 believe that, anxious aS Is Her
Maiesty's Government to avoid the slight
est cause OF difference with the Govern
mept of the United States the time Is far
distant when the Government of England
will shrink in the slightest degree from
giving fair and candid consideration to
whatever the claims of Canada may he.
I should deeply deplore, and every
intelligent Canadian would deeply
deplore, any interruption to the
commercial relations existing be-
tween Canada and this country, but
! | cannot forget that If the policy OF nom
intercourse were adopted it would lead to
the development of those channels OF COM
munication which We have ourselves, and
that the commerce of Canada, which to-
day is building up New York. am
speaking of the through traftic-and Is
building up Boston and Portland, wouid
he carried through exclusively Canadian
channels to Canadian ports, and build up
Montreal. Quebec, st. Andrews, St Johns
and Halifax with increasing rapldlty. L
never expect to see the hour come when n
pon-intereourse policy Is adopted.